Pacific Odyssey - Leg 5

I have written the date as March 4th, but today is March 5th.  I made a
mistake in yesterday´s date, but the computer does not like 2 entries with
the same date, thus the ´4th.´   Trainees and crew spent the day touring
around Hiroshima.  Like usual, we walk a lot, but the trolley is easy to us=
e
and inexpensive.   After a day of walking outside exploring Hiroshima Castl=
e
and the Shukkeien Gardens the trolley was warm and comfortable, part of a
good experience. The castle was established by Mori Terumoto in 1589 and wa=
s
used successively by different lords.  It was destroyed by the atomic bomb
blast in 1945 but the 5-floor tower, the most prominent part of the castle,
was restored in 1958 and is open to the public.  It is now a museum that
teaches the history of the castle and the area from the 15th century onward=
.
The castle stands in one corner of a huge piece of land that is beautifully
looked after and is encircled by a wide moat.  The foundations of some of
the other buildings are still visible.  The gorgeously composed and crafted
wall and entrance gate are also reconstructed.  The building style is
typical Japanese timber frame joinery; Skipper took quite a few detail
pictures. From there we went to the gardens and spent a wonderful 2 hours
wandering the grounds, appreciating all the miniature landscapes we found
there.    The name ´Shukkeien´ means =B3shrink-scenery garden=B2 and expresses
the idea of collecting and miniaturizing many scenic views. The narrow path=
s
curve in, out, and around many types of trees, all labeled, and bushes, wit=
h
small shrines, resting places, bamboo fences or railings, small wooden
boats, and stone bridges etc. interspersed throughout.  We are appreciating
the Japanese´ attention to detail and the pride they seem to take in doing =
a
perfect job.  We visited the bathhouse tonight; it is amazing; for our
family it is probably the best thing about Japan, perhaps for the rest of
the crew and trainees as well.  It is definitely something we would love to
bring into our Canadian culture. The bathhouse is quite new and meticulousl=
y
kept and run.  As soon as we entered, a very friendly woman chatted away at
us in Japanese, explaining what the process was; we obviously looked like w=
e
needed instruction. After a few minutes of smiling, nodding, and ´charades,=
´
we understood and proceeded to the baths.  We easily spent 2 hours washing
in the personal wash stations and soaking in the 6 or 7 various pools,
saunas.  This bathhouse has an outdoor area where we could sit in
teacup-shaped pots built for two, and look up at the stars, head leaning on
one side, legs hanging over the other . . . wonderful.  There was a marble
slab (the entire place was built of marble and stone tile) with about 1cm o=
f
hot water over it; we lied on it, again, looking up at the stars and feelin=
g
warm (and very free . . . we´re naked remember!)   There were 2 outdoor sal=
t
water pools made entirely out of stone, and a tiled pool with rose-colored
water that smelled of cherry blossoms and was surrounded by single branches
of fresh blossoms fed by small bags of water. There were 2 individually
sized wooden saunas where you stepped inside, closed the door and were then
completely enclosed in a wooden box with your head sticking out in the fres=
h
air. Inside the bathhouse was a huge sauna with soft, thick towels to lie o=
r
sit on and 2 large stoves containing hot stones creating steam . . . it
really is all quite heavenly.  We plan to return Thursday night before
leaving Hiroshima the following day.  Jordan visited with a friend from 6
years ago and had a wonderful evening. In the hold Elske, Joel, Greg, James=
,
and Tiana did wild and fantastic hairdos on each other with Zach making sur=
e
it was all on film.  They had fun; it´s one of those experiences we can
laugh at and enjoy because everyone is like family, and large families
sometimes do simple but strange and inexpensive activities to entertain
themselves.   Here is an interesting fact about Hiroshima: Hiroshima has th=
e
longest assembly line in the world, the Mazda plant with 7 km.  This is it
for now, tomorrow we have another big day; everyone is visiting the
Hiroshima Atomic Bomb site together.  Until then, good-night, Bonice.